Dems Move on $1.9T Covid Package

Feb. 4, 2021

Senate Democrats took the first step Tuesday toward passing a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill without Republican support, advancing their efforts to avoid a GOP filibuster, Politico reports. The vote, which passed 50-49, is a sign that leadership expects to have “the full Democratic caucus on board” for the final package. 

According to the report, the vote comes a day after President Joe Biden met with a group of Senate Republicans, who are offering a $618 billion counterproposal. Although Biden told Senate Dems Tuesday on a private caucus call that the meeting went well, he also said the Republican proposal is not sufficient according to sources on the call.

Trying to pass the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan will amount to Democrats’ first major legislative effort since winning full control of Washington. The Senate will pass a budget that instructs committees to write the relief bill, which includes increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and providing $400 in weekly federal unemployment benefits through September. 

The current unemployment benefits expire in mid-March, and Democrats believe they need to pass a bill by March 7 to prevent a lapse and give states time to implement the new policy, according to the report. 

As part of the budget reconciliation process, the Senate will have a “vote-a-rama” later this week, during which any senator can file an amendment for a vote.

Source: Politico